“What’s with the fancy-schmancy vibes?”
Jake, who came in with liquor bottles in both hands, said with a grin.
He was still wearing that same tuxedo from the wedding. A white tuxedo that was definitely asking for trouble and dirt. Not exactly the attire for a drinking party.
Considering Lindbergh’s wealth, it’s not like throwing away a fancy outfit would be a big deal… but that’s not the issue right now.
“Did you properly entertain the guests? What about Duke Lindbergh?”
“It’s fine! I talked to them briefly.”
Yeah, like a brief chat would ever suffice.
They’re not exactly at the level of the Emperor or the Crown Princess, or even foreign princesses, but dukes and princes are not exactly everyday encounters either. The higher the status, the less likely there is a valid reason for casual chats, and in that sense, the wedding was a great chance for the lower nobility to get to know the Duke’s family, giving them an excuse to congratulate face-to-face.
It’s a special day, so everyone would be smiling and chatting, giving them the chance to have some light chatter.
If the groom just disappears like this, all the attention will shift to his father.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. It’s a good day, after all. Honestly, on a good day, I just want to spend time with my friends. Since my father ignored our wishes and went all out with this wedding, he should be prepared for the consequences.”
Not like he anticipated anything like this… but well, it’s too late for that now that Jake has made it this far. After spending the last four years in the same class, I’ve already seen Jake’s stubbornness firsthand. No, I think everyone here is probably on the same page.
Seeing Jake, everyone wore smirks.
“Roti, why are you hiding? Come on out! No one here is uncomfortable, right?”
As Jake said that, he kicked the half-open door wide open. Thanks to that, Roti, who was hiding behind it, was fully exposed.
Just like how Jake was still in his tuxedo, Roti was still in her wedding dress.
“You don’t need to be so shy. You waved to the kids so happily earlier during the procession.”
“But… I was in a daze back then…”
I couldn’t hide my surprise seeing Roti struggling to keep her formal speech due to embarrassment.
“…Don’t tease your wife too much, just come inside.”
Hearing that, Alice, who had been watching the two with disbelief, spoke up, making Roti’s already red face turn an even deeper shade of crimson.
“Uh—no.”
And just as Roti was about to come in following Alice, she halted with a raised hand and stood up.
“Since it’s come to this, let’s drink with Roti’s friends. Isn’t Jake holding way too little alcohol anyway?”
Roti’s face turned from red to pale at that remark.
“That sounds like a good idea. It feels a bit bad to drink only with ourselves when we have the Baroness’s friends here.”
Charlotte, following Alice’s lead, stood up and said that.
Strictly speaking, we were also guests as the Baroness’s acquaintances. Although, it could be said we were closer to her husband’s friends. After all, Roti and I were in different classes until graduation. Of course, we met often and chatted, but I guess to Roti, her classmates might feel more comfortable.
But hey, if we all gather in one room, wouldn’t those friends, not to mention the innkeeper, faint in shock?
Just think about it, Alice herself is an Imperial Princess. Although her bodyguards didn’t come along, there were plenty of soldiers and knights in uniform openly roaming around the Lindbergh area.
How would they react if we suddenly decided to move with no preparation and start drinking?
…
What do you mean how? If you say to do it, you do it. I mean, it’s the Emperor’s wish, after all.
“Alright, let’s change locations then?”
When Jake, now her husband, said that, Roti’s expression suddenly turned very serious.
If I’m not mistaken, the expression I saw at that moment was one that pondered whether to smack her husband’s back in front of these noble folks or not.
*
Just as expected, the inn was in chaos.
No, calling it an inn was an understatement. It was the place Roti had arranged for her friends. There was no way it would be shabby.
Where we ended up was a hotel. Not just any hotel, but one that wouldn’t make you feel embarrassed even if nobles stayed there.
Did they receive a portion of Lindbergh’s funds even before the wedding? Although Duke Lindbergh couldn’t exactly be called an honorable man, he knew how to maintain appearances, so maybe he figured something like this was justifiable.
“Your, Your Majesty…”
The innkeeper, who was hesitating whether to call her the Empress or Emperor, eventually made a respectful bow, expressing it with that simple phrase.
It’s because the proper formalities or titles have yet to be established. Especially since there are discussions about voting rights, it seems there are various legal interpretations emerging now that Alice, “a woman with no political rights according to imperial law,” has ascended to the throne. It used to not be a problem if a queen appeared during a time when there was no parliament and the laws were at the Emperor’s whim, but it feels like they can’t keep up with the changing times.
Considering three years have passed and they’re still fumbling, it seems the legislators are just as sluggish no matter what world you’re in.
“They said there are people here who wish to meet with you at the hotel.”
“Yes, please tell us. We will serve you with all our heart.”
At the innkeeper’s words, Alice nodded a bit arrogantly and stated our purpose for being at the hotel.
The innkeeper immediately arranged to lend us an entire banquet hall.
“Wow, it’s really spacious.”
Claire said, glancing up at the banquet hall with a slightly excited expression.
“It seems it’s not just spacious in appearance.”
“Roti wouldn’t book a hotel that was just a pretty facade, right?”
Leo responded lightly, as if handing Claire a drink.
Honestly, the banquet hall was overly spacious for just Roti’s friends and us. I wonder if they rented this place solely because the Emperor was visiting.
Regardless of the innkeeper’s intentions, as we sat and waited at our seats,
“Is this really okay?”
Sofia spoke with a very low-class citizen’s attitude.
“Don’t worry; it’s not free. We’ll pay properly when we leave. I can’t have the Emperor’s name go down in history as stingy.”
Alice turned to Sofia, saying that.
“And I’m not planning to ask you to pay either, so don’t worry.”
At Alice’s words, Sofia puffed her cheeks but quickly sat back down quietly.
“You didn’t have to be like that though…”
Eventually, Roti, who had followed us here, timidly protested in a quiet voice, but everyone merely smiled at her.
No, Mia and Rena seemed to have misjudged the situation entirely. They likely just came along for the ride, caught in the whirlwind of events.
They should be fine. Once I feed Mia a few sweet snacks, her expression will melt, and Rena will surely light up once I offer her the mini digger she brought.
“…Why do you have such a proud face?”
Alice, sitting next to me, asked, looking at me incredulously.
I shrugged my shoulders at her. Alice shot me a glare, but she didn’t press any further. She probably figured I’d let her know everything once we just wait.
“Oh, by the way, what’s that alcohol you brought?”
Claire asked Jake.
“Huh? Oh, I’m not really sure. I just brought whatever was around the house.”
“Young master…!”
At that, Roti couldn’t contain herself and shouted, causing everyone in the banquet hall to focus on her.
“Roti, what’s with the ‘young master’? I’m your husband now. You should properly call me ‘dear.’”
Saying that felt really awkward.
No, it’s not that it’s awkward because it’s Roti. It’s just that these two are, in fact, the same age as us.
I mean, if I get technical about it, our actual ages differ, but that makes it feel even weirder to use the term ‘dear.’
“Huh? Huh? What are you going to do? Now that we’re married, it’s time for a change in address, right? Isn’t that right, dear?”
As Jake got closer to her and said that, Roti hunched her shoulders and shivered. It was vividly clear how red her neck and ears had turned.
“D-Dear…”
“Pardon? I can’t hear you!”
Jake moved closer on purpose and said that—
“Dear.”
Roti lifted her head, face still flaming red.
“Do you have any idea how much this costs?”
“Eh?”
And with that, the first piece of nagging from Jake’s ‘dear’ wife followed.
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